What Are the Symptoms of Erosive Gastritis?
Jun 07, 2021
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lu Chaohui
Introduction
1. Abdominal pain: In acute erosive gastritis, abdominal pain commonly manifests as dull or severe pain in the upper abdomen; in chronic erosive gastritis, abdominal pain is typically irregular.
2. Nausea and vomiting: Patients may experience nausea, anorexia, loss of appetite, postprandial fullness, acid reflux, belching, or aversion to greasy foods—symptoms indicative of dyspepsia. Additionally, patients with gastric mucosal erosion may present with hematemesis or melena.
Erosive gastritis refers to gastric mucosal erosion and bleeding caused by various etiologies; it is also known as acute gastritis, hemorrhagic gastritis, or acute gastric mucosal lesions. Gastric glands within the gastric mucosa secrete gastric acid and digestive enzymes to break down and digest food, while the mucosa itself produces mucus to protect the stomach from self-digestion. Once the balance between gastric acid secretion and mucus production is disrupted, the gastric mucosa becomes vulnerable to injury, leading to inflammation—and potentially ulcers. So, what are the symptoms of erosive gastritis? The following section addresses this question.
What Are the Symptoms of Erosive Gastritis?
1. Abdominal Pain
In acute erosive gastritis, abdominal pain typically manifests as dull or severe upper abdominal pain. In chronic erosive gastritis, abdominal pain tends to be irregular in pattern. Moreover, due to prolonged gastric discomfort and irregular eating habits, patients with chronic erosive gastritis may develop anemia, resulting in dizziness and fatigue.
2. Nausea and Vomiting
Patients may experience nausea, loss of appetite, poor appetite, postprandial fullness, acid reflux, belching, or aversion to fatty foods—signs of dyspepsia. Additionally, patients with gastric mucosal erosion may present with hematemesis (vomiting blood) or melena (black tarry stools). Chronic low-grade bleeding can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Mild cases generally involve fewer complications.
Additional Information: Causes of Erosive Gastritis
1. Dietary Factors
Consumption of strong tea, strong coffee, hard liquor, extremely cold or hot foods, coarse foods, or highly irritating seasonings can irritate the gastric mucosa, impair the mucosal barrier, and cause mucosal injury and inflammation. Particularly, excessive alcohol intake damages epithelial cells or induces mucosal hemorrhage.
2. Medication-Related Factors
Certain medications—including specific antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and corticosteroids—can damage the gastric mucosal barrier, increase mucosal permeability, and allow hydrogen ions from gastric juice to back-diffuse into the mucosa. This process may result in mucosal erosion and bleeding. Patients are advised to maintain a healthy diet, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, and cultivate a positive emotional state.
3. Biological Factors
These primarily involve bacteria and their toxins—namely, ingestion of pathogenic microorganisms and their toxins, which injure the gastric mucosa. Such exposures commonly manifest as acute gastroenteritis or food poisoning. Common causative bacteria include *Salmonella*, halophilic bacteria (*Vibrio parahaemolyticus*), and pathogenic *Escherichia coli*. Common bacterial toxins include those produced by *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Clostridium botulinum*, with *S. aureus* toxin being the most frequently encountered.
The above outlines the key symptoms of erosive gastritis. We hope this information proves helpful to you.
